Parts for imaging apparatus, and imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

An imaging apparatus&#39; parts are provided with an outer frame member, an enclosure section shielding body accommodated by the outer frame member and accommodating and achieving electrically continuous connection with an imaging part, a connection that connects a metal shield of a relay connector to the imaging apparatus by contacting with an interior of the enclosure section shielding body, a barrier wall between the relay connector and the enclosure section shielding body, and a connector terminal. The connector terminal includes an internal contact section exposed to an interior of the enclosure section shielding body, and an external contact section exposed to an interior of the connector. The enclosure section shielding body is formed of a box-shaped metal shell accommodating the internal contact section in the interior. The connector has a connector section shielding body formed of a tubular metal shell accommodating the external contact section in the interior.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and particularlyto an imaging apparatus, such as an in-vehicle camera.

BACKGROUND ART

A compact imaging apparatus including a built-in imaging element isused, such as an in-vehicle drive recorder, an in-vehicle camera used toimprove visibility of the rear side of the vehicle, and a surveillancecamera used for crime prevention in a bank, a shop, and other locations.An example of the imaging apparatus of related art is described, forexample, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-1334 (Patent Literature1).

The in-vehicle camera 1 (imaging apparatus) described in PatentLiterature 1 includes a rear enclosure 9 formed of a resin molded bodythat forms a camera enclosure that accommodates electronic parts, and atubular connector section 11 for external connection is formed in therear enclosure 9. The camera enclosure accommodates pin-shaped connectorterminals 11 b, which each have one end that protrudes into the rearenclosure 9 and connects the electronic parts in the rear enclosure 9 tothe connector section 11 and the other end that protrudes into theconnector section 11 and achieves electrically continuous connectionwith a counter connector 100 of a vehicle-side harness 101.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-1334, FIG. 2

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Such an imaging apparatus is required, as the performance thereofadvances, to include a housing (camera enclosure) resistant toelectromagnetic noise that externally enters the imaging apparatus. Tomeet the requirement, it is conceivable to replace the housing formed ofa hard resin molded body with an aluminum diecast housing. A diecasthousing, however, has not only a problem of an increase in weight but aproblem of an increase in manufacturing cost. As another method formeeting the requirement, it is conceivable to form the rear enclosure 9and the connector section 11 integrally with each other by drawing ametal thin plate in press working into a single drawn body. Theconnector section 11 has, however, a tubular shape thinner than the rearenclosure 9. It is extremely difficult to manufacture the thin connectorsection 11 integrally with the rear enclosure 9, which is larger thanthe connector section 11, in a drawing process. Further, a drawing dieis complicated, and the manufacturing cost thereof is therefore high.The method described above cannot be a realistic solution appropriatefor volume production.

The present invention has been made based on the related art describedabove. An object of the present invention is to provide an imagingapparatus that is resistant to electromagnetic noise and can be readilymanufactured at low cost.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the object described above, the present invention has thefollowing features:

The present invention relates to parts for an imaging apparatuscomprising an outer frame member made of a resin including an enclosuresection that accommodates an imaging part, a connector section thatconnects an external conductor to the imaging apparatus, and a barrierwall between the enclosure section and the connector section and aconnector terminal including an internal contact section exposed to aninterior of the enclosure section and an external contact sectionexposed to an interior of the connector section, the parts for animaging apparatus are characterized in that the parts for an imagingapparatus further comprises an enclosure section shielding body formedof a box-shaped metal shell that accommodates the internal contactsection in the interior of the enclosure section and a connector sectionshielding body formed of a tubular metal shell that accommodates theexternal contact section in the interior of the connector section.

According to the present invention, the enclosure section shieldingbody, which is a box-shaped metal shell, can suppress influence ofelectromagnetic noise on the internal contact section of the connectorterminal in the enclosure section. Further, the connector sectionshielding body, which is a tubular metal shell, can suppress influenceof electromagnetic noise on the external contact section of theconnector terminal in the connector section which connects the externalconductor to the imaging apparatus. A bad influence of the externalelectromagnetic noise on the connector terminal, which serves as anelectrically continuous path, can therefore be avoided. In particular,parts for an imaging apparatus suitable for transmission of ahigh-frequency signal can be achieved. Further, the enclosure sectionshielding body, which is a box-shaped metal shell, and the connectorsection shielding body, which is a tubular metal shell, are componentsseparate from each other and can therefore each be relatively readilymanufactured as a press-worked metal thin plate.

The connector section shielding body may include a contact piece thatachieves electrically continuous connection with the enclosure sectionshielding body. The connector section shielding body and the enclosuresection shielding body can therefore achieve electrically continuousconnection with each other via the contact piece, whereby the achievedelectrically continuous path can be used, for example, to ground theimaging part accommodated in the enclosure section. Further, a heatdissipation path can be so formed as to include the enclosure sectionshielding body, which accommodates the heat-generating imaging part, andthe connector section shielding body connected to each other via thecontact piece, whereby heat of the enclosure section shielding body canbe dissipated with increased efficiency.

The contact piece may be a spring piece that achieves pressing contactwith the enclosure section shielding body. The contact piece, which isformed of a spring piece, therefore achieves pressing contact with theenclosure section shielding body with the aid of the resilient forceproduced by the spring piece. Therefore, even if the enclosure sectionshielding body and the connector section shielding body are eachpositionally shifted and attached, the contact piece formed of a springpiece can absorb the positional shift to achieve pressing contact withthe enclosure section shielding body. Further, no soldering step or anyother step is required to achieve the electrically continuous connectionbetween the contact piece and the enclosure section shielding body,whereby reliable electrically continuous connection can be achieved byattaching the enclosure section shielding body and the connector sectionshielding body to a housing.

The enclosure section shielding body may include a circumferential wallsection disposed on an inner circumferential surface of a tubularcircumferential wall that forms the enclosure section and a bottom wallsection disposed on a wall surface that forms the barrier wall and facesthe enclosure section. The circumferential wall section and the bottomwall section of the enclosure section shielding body can thereforereliably shield the internal space formed by the enclosure section andthe barrier wall against electromagnetic waves.

The connector section shielding body may include a tubular main bodythat passes through the barrier wall from the interior of the connectorsection and protrudes into the interior of the enclosure sectionshielding body. The thus configured tubular main body can reliably andseamlessly shield the electrically continuous path of the connectorterminal from the interior of the connector section though the barrierwall to the interior of the enclosure section shielding body.

The connector section shielding body may accommodate the connectorterminal and a terminal holder that is made of a resin material andholds the connector terminal. Since an in-shield connector sectionincluding the connector terminal described above and the terminal holderthat holds the connector terminal is provided in the connector sectionshielding body, the connector section shielding body can reliably shieldthe connecter terminal, which forms the electrically continuous path.Further, providing the in-shield connector section in the connectorsection shielding body allows the in-shield connector section and theconnector section shielding body to be handled as an integratedcomponent, that is, a part, whereby the two components can be readilyhandled in the steps of manufacturing the imaging apparatus.

The connector section shielding body may include a locking section thatprotrudes from an outer surface of the connector section shielding bodyand is locked by the outer frame member. The locking section of theconnector section shielding body can therefore maintain the correctstate in which the connector section shielding body is attached to theouter frame member.

The present invention further provides an imaging apparatus includingany of the parts for an imaging apparatus described above. The enclosuresection shielding body, which is formed of a box-shaped metal shell, andthe connector section shield body, which is formed of a tubular metalshell, can therefore achieve reliable electromagnetic shielding thatallows even high-frequency signal transmission via the connectorterminal, which is the path along to which an electric signal from theimaging part is transmitted. The enclosure section shielding body andthe connector section shielding body are members separate from eachother and can therefore be readily manufactured at low cost, and theouter frame member is made of a resin, whereby an imaging apparatus muchlighter than an imaging apparatus including a diecast outer frame membercan be provided.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, the enclosure section shieldingbody, which is formed of a box-shaped metal shell, and the connectorsection shield body, which is formed of a tubular metal shell, canachieve reliable electromagnetic shielding that allows evenhigh-frequency signal transmission via the connector terminal, which isthe path along to which an electric signal from the imaging part istransmitted, and the two shielding bodies are members separate from eachother, whereby an imaging apparatus that can be readily manufactured atlow cost can be provided. Further, since the outer frame member is madeof a resin, an imaging apparatus much lighter than an imaging apparatusincluding a diecast outer frame member can be provided. The presentinvention can therefore contribute to popularization and expansion of ahigh-performance imaging apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the imaging apparatus viewed in thedirection X in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the imaging apparatus in Fi.1 taken along the plane X-Z.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the imaging apparatus in FIG. 1taken along the plane Y-Z and containing the axis of a fixing member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view including the front surface, the right sidesurface, and the plan surface of a housing in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view including the rear surface, the left sidesurface, and the plan surface of the housing in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the housing in FIG. 1 with part thereofcut off.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view including the front surface, the right sidesurface, and the plan surface of an inner frame member in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view including the rear surface, the right sidesurface, and the plan surface of the inner frame member in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view including the front surface, the rightside surface, and the plan surface of a connector for externalconnection in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the connector for external connection.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view including the rear surface, the left sidesurface, and the plan surface of the connector for external connectionin FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the connector for external connection in FIG.1.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in FIG.11.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to drawings. In the present specification, the claims, and thedrawings, the description will be made under the following definition:The direction X shown in FIG. 1 is the rightward/leftward direction ofan imaging apparatus and components thereof; the direction Y shown inFIG. 1 is the frontward/rearward direction of the imaging apparatus andcomponents thereof; and the direction Z in FIG. 1 is the optical axisdirection, the height direction, and the upward/downward direction ofthe imaging apparatus and components thereof. It is noted, however, thatthe definition of the directions is not intended to limit the directionsin which the imaging apparatus and other components of the presentinvention are implemented and used.

Configuration of Imaging Apparatus 1

An imaging apparatus 1 includes a housing 8 whose the front side formsan opening 81, an imaging circuit unit 4 which serves as an “imagingpart” provided in the housing 8, a lens unit 3 which is attached to theopening 81 of the housing 8, a connector 5 for external connection whichis provided in the housing 8 and connects the imaging circuit unit 4 toan external apparatus, and fixing members 9 which fix the imagingcircuit unit 4 in the housing 8.

The housing 8 includes an outer frame member 7 and an inner frame member6, which is formed of a box-shaped metal shell as an “enclosure sectionshielding body” provided in the outer frame member 7 so as to be inintimate contact therewith. The inner frame member 6 is so formed ininsert molding with the inner frame member 6 inserted into the outerframe member 7, and the housing 8 is therefore formed as a molded bodyformed of the outer frame member 7 and the inner frame member 6integrated with each other.

The outer frame member 7 is formed of a thermally conductive resinmolded body having a thermal conductivity ranging from 1 to 20 W/mK. Abox-shaped section 71, which serves as an “enclosure section,” is formedin a front portion of the outer frame member 7, and a tubular section72, which serves as a “connector section,” is formed in a rear portionof the outer frame member 7.

The box-shaped section 71 has a tubular circumferential wall 71 a withan opening 77 formed on the front side of the box-shaped section 71. Abottom wall 71 c is formed by a barrier wall 71 b on the rear side ofthe box-shaped section 71 of the side opposite the front side thereof,so that the box-shaped section 71 has a rectangular box-like shape as awhole. The interior of the box-shaped section 71 forms a cavity 76,which accommodates the inner frame member 6. Columnar sections 78, whichextend in the direction Z, are provided at two opposing corners of thecavity 76. A threaded hole 79, which engages with a screw, is formed ineach of the columnar section 78. A tubular support wall 71 d, which isprovided along a hole edge of a first insertion hole 73, which will bedescribed later, is formed on the bottom wall 71 c. The tubular supportwall 71 d is a cylindrical resin wall, and first recesses 71 e andsecond recesses 71 f are formed in the outer circumference of thetubular support wall 71 d. Positioning protrusions 533, which areprovided at part of a pin shield 53, which will be described later, arefit in the first recesses 71 e, and contact pieces 532 enter the secondrecesses 71 f in such a way that the contact pieces 532 are elasticallydeformable (see FIG. 7). The tubular support wall 71 d also functions asa barrier wall that prevents the pin shield 53, which will be describedlater, from coming into contact with and rubbing against the inner framemember 6 when the pin shield 53 is inserted into the first insertionhole 73. If the pin shield 53 rubs against the inner frame member 6 wheninserted into the first insertion hole 73, metal residues that cause ashort circuit are produced, but the thus functioning tubular supportwall 71 d can prevent the metal residues from being produced.

The tubular section 72 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the firstinsertion hole 73, which passes through the barrier wall 71 b andcommunicates with the cavity 76 and into which the connector 5 forexternal connection is inserted and attached, is formed on the frontside of the tubular section 72. On the other hand, a second insertionhole 74, which communicates with the first insertion hole 73 and intowhich a socket 21 of a relay connector 2 is insertable, is formed on therear side of the tubular section 72. A locking claw 75, which is aprotrusion for locking the relay connector 2, is formed on an outercircumferential portion of the tubular section 72.

The inner frame member 6, which serves as the “enclosure sectionshielding body,” is formed in a bottomed tubular shape having acircumferential wall section 60 a, which covers the tubularcircumferential wall 71 a of the box-shaped section 71, and a bottomwall section 60 b, which covers the bottom wall 71 c of the box-shapedsection 71. The inner frame member 6 is made of a metal material thatexcels in thermal conductivity, such as aluminum and a copper alloy. Thefront side of the inner frame member 6 forms an opening 61. A cavity 63is formed in the inner frame member 6. A third insertion hole 62, whichcommunicates with the cavity 63 and into which the connector 5 forexternal connection is insertable, is formed in the bottom wall section60 b. Attachment plates 67, which each protrude in the form of an inwardflange toward the interior of the cavity 63, are formed at a pair ofopposing corners of the opening 61 of the inner frame member 6. Anattachment hole 68, which is provided with a thread groove and engageswith the fixing members 9 of screws, is formed in each of the attachmentplates 67. The inner frame member 6 is so formed in insert molding withthe inner frame member 6 inserted into the outer frame member 7 to forman integrated molded body. The surface of the outer frame member 7 andthe surface of the inner frame member 6 that are in contact with eachother are therefore in intimate contact with each other with no gaptherebetween, whereby satisfactory thermal conductivity between the twomembers is achieved.

The imaging circuit unit 4 includes substrate 41 a, 41 b, and 41 c,which have a variety of electric elements and circuit wiring lines, aconnector 42 a, which connects the substrates 41 a and 41 b to eachother, a connector 42 b, which connects the substrates 41 b and 41 c toeach other, an imaging element 44, which is mounted on the substrate 41a, and a relay connector 48.

The substrate 41 a, 41 b, and 41 c are each a printed circuit board. Outof the three substrates, heat dissipating metal wiring lines 43 and 47,which differ from the circuit wiring lines, are formed on a frontsurface and a rear surface of the substrate 41 a, respectively. Throughholes 45, which engage with the fixing members 9 of screws, are providedin the substrate 41 a. In the present embodiment, a thread groove and ametal film that leads to the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43 areformed on the inner surface of each of the through holes 45. Cutouts 49a and 49 b are formed in the substrates 41 b and 41 c, respectively. Thecutouts 49 a and 49 b are so formed that the substrates 41 b and 41 ccan be smoothly inserted into the inner frame member 6 and incorporatedtherein with no interference with the attachment plates 67. The relayconnector 48, which achieves electrically continuous connection with theconnector 5 for external connection, is provided on the substrate 41 c.The relay connector 48 has the function of connecting the imagingcircuit unit 4 to the external apparatus via the connector 5 forexternal connection. The housing of the relay connector 48 is providedwith four socket terminals (not shown) corresponding to four pinterminals 52 of the connector 5 for external connection so that thesocket terminals achieve electrically continuous connection with the pinterminals 52.

The imaging element 44 is an imaging device, such as a charge coupleddevice (CCD) and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)device, converts light guided through the lens unit 3 into an electricsignal, and outputs the electric signal to the external apparatus.

The lens unit 3 is a member that is so fixed as to close the front-sideopening 81 of the housing 8, and a lens 31, which guides light to theimaging element 44, is provided in a central portion of a plate-shapedmain body section 32. The lens unit 3 can be attached to the housing 8by means of fitting, bonding, screw fixation, or any other arbitrarymethod. The main body section 32 is formed of a square plate-shapedresin molded body and is a non-light-transparent member that transmitsno outside light. The lens 31 is a member that is made of a resin orglass material, collects outside light, and forms an image on the frontsurface of the imaging element 44. It is assumed that the lens 31 isintegrated with the main body section 32 in insert molding in thepresent embodiment. The lens 31 may instead be bonded or otherwiseattached to and integrated with the main body section 32.

The connector 5 for external connection achieves electrically conductiveconnection between the imaging circuit unit 4 and the externalapparatus. The connector 5 for external connection has a plurality ofpin terminals 52 (four pin terminals 52 in present embodiment), whichare connected to the relay connector 48 of the imaging circuit unit 4, ahousing 51, which serves as a “terminal holder” to which the pinterminals 52 are press-fitted and fixed, and the pin shield 53, whichserves as a “connector section shielding body” which is fixed to thehousing 51 so as to cover the circumference of the housing 51 and thepin terminals 52.

The pin terminals 52 are inserted into the socket terminals (not shown)of the relay connector 48 of the imaging circuit unit 4 to achieveelectrically conductive connection therewith. The pin terminals 52 notonly transmit an electric signal produced by the imaging circuit unit 4but is used to supply electric power from the external apparatus to theimaging circuit unit 4. The housing 51 is a circular columnar resinmolded body having terminal holding holes 511, to which the pinterminals 52 are press-fitted and fixed. The pin terminals 52 arepress-fitted and fixed into the terminal holding holes 511, and internalconnection pins 521, which serve as “internal contact sections” of thepin terminals 52, protrude via the front end of the housing 51. Further,external connection pins 522, which serve as “external contact sections”of the pin terminals 52, protrude via the rear end of the housing 51.The external connection pins 522 are covered with the cylindrical pinshield 53 and disposed in the internal space thereof. When the socket 21of the relay connector 2 is inserted into the second insertion hole 74,a connection terminal 22 in the socket 21 is inserted into the pinshield 53, and the connection terminal 22 achieves electricallyconductive connection with the external connection pins 522 in the pinshield 53. The fixation of the pin terminals 52 to the housing 51 doesnot necessarily based on press fitting and may instead be based oninsert molding.

The pin shield 53 is a cylindrical metal molded body thatelectromagnetically shields the pin terminals 52 and includes a tubularmain body 531 and the paired contact pieces 532, which are located atthe front end of the tubular main body 531 and extend in the radialdirection (+Y direction, −Y direction) with respect to the axis of thetubular pin shield 53. The contact pieces 532 are each formed as aspring piece that extends in the form of a cantilever from the tubularmain body 531. The contact pieces 532, which are elastically deformed,can therefore achieve pressing contact with the bottom wall section 60 bof the inner frame member 6. The contact pieces 532, which areelastically deformed to achieve the pressing contact, can reliablymaintain the pressing contact with the inner frame member 6 even if thecomponents of the imaging apparatus 1 are each positionally shifted by asmall amount when the imaging apparatus 1 is assembled or due to impactor vibration acting on the imaging apparatus 1 in use.

The pin shield 53 is further provided with four pins 57 for groundconnection, which protrude frontward.

The pin shield 53 has positioning protrusions 533 as a locking section,which protrude outward. The positioning protrusions 533 are fit into thefirst recesses 71 e of the tubular support wall 71 d, which is formed onthe bottom wall 71 c of the box-shaped section 71, as described above.The pin shield 53 will therefore not rotate even if external force thatrotates the pin shield 53 in the first insertion hole 73 acts on the pinshield 53 because the positioning protrusions 533 abut against the firstrecesses 71 e, whereby the pin shield 53 will not loosen or fall off andcan maintain the correct attachment state.

The fixing members 9 are screws made of a metal. The threaded portionformed on a shaft portion of each of the fixing members 9 engages withthe thread groove of the corresponding through hole 45 provided in thesubstrate 41 a and further engages with the thread groove of thecorresponding attachment hole 68 provided in the inner frame member 6,whereby the imaging circuit unit 4 can be fixed to the housing 8.

In the state in which the imaging circuit unit 4 is fixed to the housing8 with the fixing members 9, a head portion of each of the fixingmembers 9, which are screws, comes into contact with the heatdissipating metal wiring line 43, which is located on the side where theimaging element 44 of the substrate 41 a is mounted, and the shaft ofeach of the screws abuts against the metal film formed on the innersurface of the corresponding through hole 45 of the substrate 41 a. Themetal film leads to the heat dissipating metal wiring line 47, which isformed on a surface of the substrate 41 a that is the surface oppositethe surface on which the imaging element 44 is mounted. The heatdissipating metal wiring line 47 is in contact with the attachmentplates 67 of the inner frame member 6. Further, the inner frame member 6is in contact with the pin shield 53 via the contact pieces 532. Athermally conductive path along which metal materials that excel inthermal conductivity are linked to each other is thus formed, that is,the thermally conductive path starts from the imaging element 44,includes the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43, the fixing members9, the metal films in the through holes 45, the heat dissipating metalwiring line 47, and reaches the inner frame member 6 and the pin shield53. The heat of the imaging element 44 can thus be effectivelydissipated by using the components of the imaging apparatus 1.

The imaging apparatus 1 described above is connected to the externalapparatus via the relay connector 2. The relay connector 2 is aconnector that connects the imaging apparatus 1 to the externalapparatus and includes the socket 21, the connection terminal 22 whichis provided in the socket 21, a locking claw 23 which is provided aspart of the socket 21, a cable 24 which extends rearward from the socket21, and a cable shield 25 made of a metal.

The socket 21 is formed of a tubular resin molded body and has an outershape that can be inserted into the second insertion hole 74, which isformed in the tubular section 72 of the housing 8. The connectionterminal 22 achieves electrically continuous connection with the pinterminals 52 of the connector 5 for external connection of the imagingapparatus 1. The locking claw 23 engages with the locking claw 75, whichis formed on the outer circumferential portion of the tubular section72, so that the relay connector 2 does not fall off the interior of thetubular section 72. The cable 24 is a coaxial cable that transmits theelectric signal produced by the imaging circuit unit 4 to the externalapparatus, and lead wires which correspond to the number of pinterminals 52 are contained in the cable 24. Sockets, terminals, andother components for connection with the external apparatus are providedat an end of the relay connector 2 that is the end opposite the imagingapparatus 1. The cable shield 25 electromagnetically shields the portionfrom a base end portion of the connection terminal 22, which is insertedinto the tubular main body 531 of the pin shield 53, to a front-end-sideportion of the cable 24 (FIG. 3) and is formed of a cylindrical metalmember. When the relay connector 2 is connected to the imaging apparatus1, the front end of the cable shield 25 abuts against the front end ofthe pin shield 53 so that the front ends are in contact with each other.The connection described above between the relay connector 2 and theimaging apparatus 1 allows transmission of an electric signal producedby the imaging apparatus 1 to the external apparatus.

Advantageous Effects of Imaging Apparatus 1

Advantageous effects of the imaging apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment will be described except those having been described.

The imaging apparatus 1 has the thermally conductive path in which theheat generated by the imaging element 44 is transferred via the heatdissipating metal wiring line 43, the fixing members 9, the metal filmsin the through holes 45, and the heat dissipating metal wiring line 47to the inner frame member 6, and then to the outer frame member 7. Theheat dissipating metal wiring line 43, the fixing members 9, the metalfilms in the through holes 45, the heat dissipating metal wiring line47, and the inner frame member 6 are each made of a metal material andtherefore have satisfactory thermal conductivity. The outer frame member7 is also made of a thermally conductive resin and therefore hassatisfactory thermal conductivity. That is, the thermally conductivepath from the imaging element 44 to the outer frame member 7 hassatisfactory thermal conductivity and can transfer the heat generated bythe imaging element 44 to the outer frame member 7 and dissipate theheat via the outer frame member 7 to the atmosphere. The heat in theimaging circuit unit 4 can therefore be effectively dissipated.

The heat transferred to the inner frame member 6 is also transferred tothe pin shield 53, which is made of a metal and is in contact with theinner frame member 6 via the contact pieces 532, and the heat is alsotransferred out of the box-shaped section 71 of the housing 8 via thepin shield 53 to the tubular section 72. The heat is therefore notaccumulated in the box-shaped section 71 of the housing 8 but can bedissipated. Further, the heat transferred to the pin shield 53 is alsotransferred to the cable shield 25 because the front end of the pinshield 53 abuts against the front end of the cable shield 25, which ismade of a metal, of the relay connector 2. The heat transferred to theinner frame member 6 can therefore be transferred also to the componentsof the relay connector 2 via the cable shield 25 and dissipated from therelay connector 2.

The imaging circuit unit 4 is covered with the circumferential wallsection 60 a and the bottom wall section 60 b of the inner frame member6 made of a metal. Therefore, the imaging circuit unit 4 is shieldedagainst external electromagnetic waves and can effectively preventgeneration of noise resulting from the electromagnetic waves. Further,the pin terminals 52 of the connector 5 for external connection are soconfigured that portions thereof fixed by the terminal holding holes 511and the external connection pins 522 are covered with the tubular mainbody 531 of the pin shield 53. The portion that achieves electricallycontinuous connection with the relay connector 2, which leads to theexternal apparatus, can also be reliably shielded againstelectromagnetic waves.

Further, the inner frame member 6 and the pin shield 53 are formedseparately from each other and are ideally preferably formed as anintegrated member from the viewpoint of the electromagnetic shielding.The tubular main body 531 of the pin shield 53, however, passes throughthe bottom wall section 60 b of the inner frame member 6 with an endportion of the tubular main body 531 located in the inner frame member6, and the tubular main body 531 therefore overlaps with the inner framemember 6, so that no gap is present therebetween in the Z direction. Theinner frame member 6 and the pin shield 53, which are separate members,can therefore reliably provide electromagnetic shielding.

Providing the connector for external connection in the connector sectionshielding body allows the connector for external connection to behandled as a component of the connector section shielding body, that is,a part thereof, whereby the integrated unit can be readily handled inthe steps of manufacturing the imaging apparatus.

Variations of Embodiment

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described aboveand can be implemented in a variety of variations. Examples of thevariations will be described.

The embodiment described above shows the case where the thermallyconductive path is formed in such a way that the fixing members 9 arescrews, the head portion of each of the screws is in contact with theheat dissipating metal wiring line 43 on the surface on which theimaging element 44 is mounted, the shaft of each of the screws is incontact with the metal film in the corresponding through hole 45 andwith the inner frame member 6, and the heat dissipating metal wiringline 47, which is continuous with the metal films in the through holes45, is in contact with the inner frame member 6. The thermallyconductive path may instead be formed in such a way that the fixingmembers 9 are each a bolt and a nut, the head portion of each of thebolts is in contact with the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43, andthe nuts are in contact with the inner frame member 6 so that the heatdissipating metal wiring line 43 is connected to the inner frame member6 via the fixing members 9. The thus formed fixing members 9 cansimilarly form the thermally conductive path from the imaging element 44to the inner frame member 6.

The fixing members 9 may instead be a thermally conductive adhesive. Inthis case, the thermally conductive adhesive is continuously applied tothe portion from the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43 via thethrough holes 45 to the heat dissipating metal wiring line 47 and theinner frame member 6, whereby a thermally conductive path ranging fromthe heat dissipating metal wiring line 43 to the inner frame member 6can be formed.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the contact pieces 532are each a spring piece has been presented. The contact pieces 532 arenot each necessarily a spring piece and can instead each be a platepiece that is in contact with the inner frame member 6. The contactpiece in the variation cannot, of course, provide the advantageouseffect provided by the contact pieces 532 each formed of a spring piece.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the imaging circuitunit 4 includes the three substrate 41 a, 41 b, and 41 c has beenpresented, but the number of substrates is not limited to three.Further, the connectors 42 a and 42 b are used to achieveinter-substrate electrically continuous connection but are only anexample that achieves the inter-substrate electrically continuousconnection, and other means may be used to achieve the inter-substrateelectrically continuous connection. The configuration of the imagingcircuit unit 4 is not limited to that shown in the present embodiment byway of example, and the imaging circuit unit may instead be formed of asingle substrate, the imaging element 44 and the heat dissipating metalwiring line 43 mounted on the substrate, through holes formed in thesubstrate and used to fix the imaging circuit unit with the aid of thefixing members 9, and the relay connector 48 disposed on the rearsurface of the substrate. The number of substrates to be used may, ofcourse, be any number, such as two and four.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1: Imaging apparatus    -   2: Relay connector    -   21: Socket    -   22: Connection terminal    -   23: Locking claw    -   24: Cable    -   25: Cable shield    -   3: Lens unit    -   31: Lens    -   32: Main body section    -   4: Imaging circuit unit    -   41 a, 41 b, 41 c: Substrate    -   42 a, 42 b: Connector    -   43: Heat dissipating metal wiring line    -   44: Imaging element    -   45: Through hole    -   47: Heat dissipating metal wiring line    -   48: Relay connector    -   49 a, 49 b: Cutout    -   5: Connector for external connection    -   51: Housing (terminal holder)    -   511: Terminal holding hole    -   52: Pin terminal (connector terminal)    -   521: Internal connection pin (internal contact section)    -   522: External connection pin (external contact section)    -   53: Pin shield (connector section shielding body)    -   531: Tubular main body    -   532: Contact piece    -   533: Positioning protrusion    -   57: Pin for ground connection    -   6: Inner frame member (enclosure section shielding body)    -   60 a: Circumferential wall section    -   60 b: Bottom wall section    -   61: Opening    -   62: Third insertion hole    -   63: Cavity    -   67: Attachment plate    -   68: Attachment hole    -   7: Outer frame member (enclosure section)    -   71: Box-shaped section (enclosure section)    -   71 a: Tubular circumferential wall    -   71 b: Barrier wall    -   71 c: Bottom wall    -   71 d: Tubular support wall    -   71 e: First recess    -   71 f: Second recess    -   72: Tubular section (connector section)    -   73: First insertion hole    -   74: Second insertion hole    -   75: Locking claw    -   76: Cavity    -   77: Opening    -   78: Columnar section    -   79: Threaded hole    -   8: Housing    -   81: Opening    -   9: Fixing member

The invention claimed is:
 1. Parts for an imaging apparatus comprising:an outer frame member made of a resin; an enclosure section shieldingbody having a bottom wall section to shield an imaging part; a connectorthat connects a metal shield of a relay connector to the imaging part bycontacting the enclosure section shielding body, wherein the outer framemember has a barrier wall between the relay connector and the enclosuresection shielding body, wherein the connector has a connector sectionshielding body in a cylindrical shape and made of metal, and a connectorterminal including an internal contact section located on one side overthe barrier wall, and connected to the imaging part and an externalcontact section adjacent to the bottom wall section, wherein theconnector section shielding body and the enclosure section shieldingbody are independent from each other and fixed to the outer frame memberthe connector is accommodated entirely in the outer frame member.
 2. Theparts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theconnector section shielding body includes a contact piece that is asingle metal piece with the connector section shielding body, thatextends from an edge of the connector section shielding body outwardlyand contacts to a surface of the bottom wall section, the surface beingfacing the imaging part, and that achieves electrically continuousconnection with the enclosure section shielding body.
 3. The parts foran imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact piece isa spring piece that achieves pressing contact with the enclosure sectionshielding body.
 4. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim1, wherein the enclosure section shielding body includes acircumferential wall section disposed on an inner circumferentialsurface of a tubular circumferential wall that forms the enclosuresection, and a bottom wall section disposed on a wall surface that formsthe barrier wall and faces the enclosure section.
 5. The parts for animaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector sectionshielding body includes a tubular main body that passes through thebarrier wall from the interior of the connector section and protrudesinto the interior of the enclosure section shielding body.
 6. The partsfor an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connectorsection shielding body accommodates the connector terminal and aterminal holder that is made of a resin material and holds the connectorterminal.
 7. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the connector section shielding body include a locking sectionthat protrudes from an outer surface of the connector section shieldingbody and is locked by the outer frame member.
 8. The parts for animaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one end of the connectorsection shielding body contacts one end of the metal shield locatedinside the relay connector so as to be conductive with the metal shield.9. An imaging apparatus, comprising: the parts for the imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, the parts being connected to the relay connector.10. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theconnector section shielding body includes a contact piece that is asingle metal piece with the connector section shielding body, thatextends from the connector section shielding body outwardly, andcontacts to the enclosure section shielding body on the one side overthe bottom wall, and that achieves electrically continuous connectionwith the enclosure section shielding body.